—— Des arrêts du destin l'ordre est invariable.——
On July 9, Convocation, relying upon the two reasons given by the king, and upon the fact that there was something ambiguous in Anne's engagement with the son of the duke of Lorraine, decided that his majesty 'was at liberty to contract another marriage for the good of the realm.'[364] None of these reasons had any validity.[365] Nor did Henry escape the condemnation and the raillery which he had so much feared. 'It appears,' said Francis I., 'that over there they are pleased to do with their women as with their geldings,—bring a number of them together and make them trot, and then take the one which goes easiest.'[366]
THE DIVORCE ACCEPTED.
The archbishop of Canterbury on July 10 reported to the House of Lords that Convocation had declared the marriage null and void by virtue both of the law of God and of the law of England. The bishop of Winchester read the judgment and explained at length the grounds of it, and the house declared itself satisfied. The archbishop and the bishop made the same report to the Commons. On the following day—Henry did not intend that any time should be lost—the lord chancellor, the duke of Norfolk, the earl of Southampton, and the bishop of Winchester betook themselves to Richmond, whither the innocent queen had been sent for change of air, and informed her, on the king's behalf, of the proceedings of parliament and of Convocation. Anne was distressed by the communication. She had supposed that the clergy would acknowledge, as it was their duty to do, the validity of her marriage. However it may be, so sharp was the stroke that she fainted away.[367] The necessary care was bestowed on her, and she recovered, and gradually reconciled herself to the thought of submission to Henry's will. The delegates told her that the king, while requiring her to renounce the title of queen, conferred on her that of his adopted sister, and gave her precedence in rank of all the ladies of the court, immediately after the queen and the daughters of the king. Anne was modest; she did not think highly of herself, and had often felt that she was not made to be queen of England. She therefore submitted, and the same day, July 11, wrote to the king,—'Though this case must needs be most hard and sorrowful unto me, for the great love which I bear to your most noble person, yet having more regard to God and his truth than to any worldly affection, as it beseemed me ... I knowledge myself hereby to accept and approve the same [determination of the clergy] wholly and entirely putting myself, for my state and condition, to your highness's goodness and pleasure; most humbly beseeching your majesty ... to take me for one of your most humble servants.' She subscribed herself 'Your majesty's most humble sister and servant, Anne, daughter the Cleves.'[368]
The king sent word to her that he conferred on her a pension of three thousand pounds, and the palace at Richmond. Anne wrote to him again, July 16, to thank him for his great kindness, and at the same time sent him her ring.[369] She preferred—and herein she showed some pride—to remain in England, rather than to go home after such a disgrace had fallen upon her. 'I account God pleased,' she wrote to her brother, 'with what is done, and know myself to have suffered no wrong or injury.... I find the king's highness ... to be as a most kind, loving and friendly father and brother.... I am so well content and satisfied that I much desire my mother, you, and other mine allies so to understand it, accept and take it.'[370] Seldom has a woman carried self-renunciation to such a length.
CHAPTER VII.
CATHERINE HOWARD, A CATHOLIC QUEEN.
(1540.)